The manner of Xavi's departure from Barcelona has been beyond farcical.
A club legend, the former Spain midfielder earned his long-anticipated appointment as Barca boss in 2021 but, after three years, the dream will come to an end this summer after an utterly bizarre close to the season.
Things did not get off to the best of starts for Xavi, as he entered with the club on the verge of Champions League group stage elimination in November '21. Though they would repeat their European underperformance in his first full campaign in charge, he would deliver La Liga to the Camp Nou for the first time in four years.
A disappointing campaign this time around, however, initially saw Xavi announce in January his intention to leave come the season's end. He reversed the decision in April, announcing that he would instead fulfil his contract through to the summer of 2025.
In astonishing second plot twist, critical remarks against the board in a recent press conference have angered president Joan Laporta to such an extent that Xavi has now been sacked by the club.
It has been an utterly ridiculous end to an underwhelming spell in charge for the Barcelona legend - and Xavi warned assumed incumbent Hansi Flick with an ominous parting shot in his final press conference as manager at the weekend.
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Xavi says Hansi Flick will "suffer" at Barcelona
🗣️ "He will suffer"
Barcelona coach Xavi had some interesting words for his expected successor Hansi Flick ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/xG78Lt6WxB— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) May 27, 2024
Xavi's reign as Barcelona manager reached its acrimonious end on Sunday, with his side earning a winning close to the season against Sevilla.
After the game, the departing Blaugrana boss was asked if he had any advice for his expected successor, German Hansi Flick. His answer was certainly one you could describe as ominous.
He will suffer. This is a very complicated place to be.
You will suffer. This is a difficult job and you have to be patient.
It's clear that Xavi's spell in charge at Barcelona has soured the relationship between the two somewhat - though Xavi says he is still open to a return to coaching somewhere down the line.
Nothing is closed, I'm a professional. Let's see what happens in the future. Of course I'm open but I think 100% that I need to rest a little bit. It's so difficult to coach Barcelona, I need rest and need to be with family.
I think that our work has not been appreciated enough. I took over when the team was in ninth place, finished the season in second place, and won the league the next season.
After a spell in charge which has been filled with its fair share of pantomime storylines and farcical goings on at Barcelona, its understandable that Xavi is in need of a rest.
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